Cooling attachment for fans



p 1953 E. K. FROST COOLING ATTACHMENT FOR FANS 2 Sheets-Sheet l w FiledNov. 7, 1950 INVENTOR.

E. K. FROST 2,653,017

Sept. 22, 1953 COOLING ATTACHMENT FOR FANS Filed Nov. 7, 1950 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Edward K. Frost INVENTOR.

Y MM

Patented Sept. 22, 19 53 vUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COOLING ATTACHMENTFORFANS Edward K. Frost, New York, N. Y.

Application November 7, 1950, Serial No. 194,455

This invention relates to improvements in evaporative coolers.

An object of this invention is to provide an attachment for a standardelectric fan which is capable of easily and conveniently attachingthereto and which is characterized by an improved structural assemblyinvolving a wick mounted on a drum, which drum is held suspended in amounting collar and improved means of supplying'the wick with moisture.

Ancillary objects and features of importance will become apparent infollowing the description of the-illustratedform of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the device;

Figure '2 is an elevational view of the device, portions broken away insection to illustrate internal detail;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-.-3.ofFigure 2 and in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 4. is a. perspective view of the attachments separated from thestandard fan illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

In carrying out this invention there is illustrated by way ofenvironment only one type of standard electric fan generally indicatedat Ill. This fan is ofthe oscillating'type; however it is quite apparentthat a fan of the fixed type may be substituted. The fan In is providedwith a blade guard I2 to which the attachment is connected.

As shown in Figure 4 there is a collar l4 shaped as a frustum of a cone,the collar having a number of straps r5 extending therefrom. Each of thestraps is provided with a loop [8 at its outer end, this loop beingapertured to accommodate a rivet, screw or the like. Inspection ofFigures 1 and 2 show that the loops are adapted to engage one of thewire members of the guard l2 to thereby hold the collar l4 suspended.

A drum 2!! is mounted concentrically in the collar It and this drum ispreferably in the shape of a frustum of a cone.

A liquid container 22 is fixed, as by soldering or spot welding, to theupper outer surface of the drum 2E) and to the upper inner surface ofthe collar Hi. There is a container 2 disposed between the lower part ofthe collar l4 and drum 20, being suitably attached to each. Thecontainers 22 and 24, collar l4 and straps l6 constitute a means ofsupporting drum 2!? so that it is in the line or path of air fiow fromthe fan blade. The frusto-conical shape of the drum 2!] enhances theevaporative cooling by presenting 6 Claims. (01. 261-72) arather largearea of the wick 26 to the airflow. This wick is suitably attached, asby gluing to the inside surface of the drum 2!! and has its ends passedthrough alined openings in the bottom wall of the container 22 and inthe drum 2!). The wick 26 is looped as at 28 intermediate its ends andthe loop passes through spaced slots 30 and 32 in the drum 2!] fordisposition in the container 24. Accordingly liquid which is placed inthe container 22 through the opening 34 which is filled by the plug 36,wets the ends of the wick 26. The wick is also wet intermediate its endsinasmuch as the loop 28 is disposed in the liquid container 25 which isadapted to be filled through the inlet 38 Which is releasably closed bythe cap 49. In order to drain the container 24, a drain outlet sleeve 52is connected to the lower wall of the container 24 and has a drain cap44 removably disposed thereon.

The container 24 is provided with side walls 48 and 48, the upper edgesof which are spaced slightly from the outer surface of the drum 26 sothat moisture which condenses on the outer surface of the drum 2% mayroll on the outer surface of the drum and be collected in the tray 50which is formed by spreading the upper end portions of the walls 46 andi8 outwardly. Therefore, the receptacle or container 24 serves threepurposes. The first is to assist in holding the collar l4 and drum 20assembled through the action of the support 52 in the container. Thesecond is to act as a condensation collector and the third is to providea reservoir for liquid so as to wet the wick. In operation theattachment is connected to the fan either permanently or removably.After the containers 22 and 2 have been supplied with liquid the wick 26becomes damp, whereby the air blast from the fan causes the device tofunction as an evaporative cooler. Condensation which collects on theouter surface of the drum 26 will be received in the tray 56 which formsa part of the receptacle 24.

Due to the frusto-conical shape of the drum 2!: a large area of wick ispresented to the air blast for increased evaporation and hence increasedcooling.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An evaporative cooler attachment for a standard fan having a fanblade guard, said cooler comprising a substantially frusto-conicalcollar and drum concentrically spaced from one another, means disposedbetween said collar and said drum for storing a supply of liquid and forholding said drum in a fixed spaced relationship with respect to saidcollar, a wick disposed on the inner surface of said drum and having aportion arranged in communication with said liquid storing means, saidliquid storing means including a receptacle having side walls, the upperedges of said side walls being spaced from said drum to thereby providepassage ways for liquid condensate on the outer surface of said drum,and said container being located between opposed lower portions of saiddrum and said collar.

2. The combination of claim 1 and said drum holding means also includinga second liquid container, said drum having an opening. therein, andsaid wick having ends passed through said opening and in communicationwith the interior of said second container.

3. A cooling attachment for a fan having a fan I guard, comprising apair of concentrically spaced outer and inner rims, meansinterconnecting said rims and maintaining them in spaced relation to oneanother, said means comprising a plurality of liquid containers, one ofsaid rims having slots therein communicating with said containers, andat least one wick following the configuration of said one of said rimsand having its ends extending into one of said containers through saidslots, and fingers spaced around one of the rims. and projectingrearwardly therefrom for securing the attachment to the fan guard.

4. An evaporative cooling attachment for a, fan having a fan guardcomprising a pair of concentrica-lly spaced outer and inner annularrims, :1

a plurality of circumferentially spaced liquid containers disposedbetween said. rims and securing the same in spaced relation to oneanother, the inner rim having slots therein opening into saidcontainers, at least one wick disposed on and following theconfiguration of said inner rim, the ends of said wick extending throughsaid slots into one of said containers, circumferentiallyspaced fingersmounted on one of said rims and projecting rearwardly therefrom forsecuring the attachment to the fan guard.

5. An evaporative cooling attachment for a fan having a fan guardcomprising a pair of con,

centrically spaced outer and inner annular rims, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced liquid containers disposed between said rimsand securing the same in spaced relation to one another, the inner rimhaving slots therein opening into said containers, at least one wickdisposed on and following the configuration of said inner rim, the endsof said wick extending through said slots into one of said containers,circumferentially spaced fingers mounted on one of said rims andprojecting rearwardly therefrom for securing the attachment to the fanguard, said rims being frusto-conical in shape and converging forwardlyfrom the fan guard.

6. An evaporative cooling attachment for a fan having a fan guard,including a pair of concentrically spaced outer and inner annular rims,a pair of diametrically opposed liquid receptacles disposed between saidrims and maintaining the same in concentrically spaced relation, saidreceptacles and said inner rim having aligned openings therein, a wickmember lying against the inner surface of said inner rim and having itsends projecting through one set of said aligned openings into one ofsaid receptacles and having. its central portion projecting throughother aligned openings into the other of said receptacles, andcircumferentially spaced fingers projecting from. one edge. of saidouter rim for securing the attachment to a fan guard.

EDWARD K. FROST.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName. Date 587,371 Miranda Aug. 3, 1897 1,007,026 Forbes et a1 Oct. 24,1.911 1,134,495 Walker Apr. 6, 1915 1,434,368 Chaufouraux Nov; 7, 19221,464,401 Bennett Aug. 7, 1923 1,982,465. Grafton. Nov. 27, 19342,396,741 McCombs Mar. 19, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date18,332 Great Britain Aug. 12, 1913 98,048 Switzerland Mar. 1, 1923

